Student Blog
Fieldwork

Planning for the future ⟩
October 17, 2013, by Rob

Classes Fieldwork What are OS/OT?

This is an exciting time to be a second-year student. After getting back from our full week of fieldwork on Monday, my Inbox started filling up for future things to do. First, I had to submit my application for the OTD program. After a lot of thought and consultation with faculty and fellow students, I decided it was the best decision for myself and my future in the profession. I’m looking forward to exploring possible residency sites in the next few month as I try to work out a fun and educational yearlong experience. Find out more on the OTD here.

I’m also starting to plan the elective courses I will be taking this spring. We have two required classes and then up to 12 additional elective units. The program is very structured for the first three semesters, but the final semester is exciting because it gives all of us students the chance to specialize in an area of interest. I’m going to be taking the Universal Design class as well as an independent study on disability studies in occupational therapy. The only sad part is that our cohorts (the three groups that we were divided into at the beginning of the program) will be splitting up. I have made some really good friends in my cohort — spending hours playing on the pediatric equipment, making splints, studying, eating lunch and basically living together for a year and a half has created tremendous camaraderie, and I’ll miss it. But that just means we will have to get some potlucks and themed parties going to bring us back together!

The last big decision on my plate is where to do my Level II Fieldwork next summer. Since I was a teaching assistant this past summer for the foundational courses the first-year’s take, I will be doing both my Level IIs back-to-back after I graduate in May. I’m going to Philadelphia for my second Level II to work on an interdisciplinary program for older adults that focuses on aging in place, something I am very passionate about. I’m still exploring places to do my first Level II here in LA. I’m leaning toward mental health, but I still have a few more weeks to get things figured out.

Whatever I choose will shape the future of my next few years in the program. But no pressure, right?

Also, a big round of applause to fellow Ambassador Jen! She has posted a whopping eight blog posts thus far. I’ll have to step up my game in the second half of the semester!

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A full week of fieldwork ⟩
October 16, 2013, by Jen

Fieldwork

This past week I did not have any classes, because I had a 40+ hour week of fieldwork. My fieldwork took place at a pediatric clinic. The purpose of fieldwork is to provide occupational therapy students to incorporate what we have been learning in the classroom to what really happens out in the field. I know I am a kinesthetic learner which means I learn best when I carry out a physical activity (as opposed to listening to instructions or observing a demonstration). This is why it has been so important for me to have as many hands-on opportunities as possible during my education. I also think that because occupational therapy is typically such a hands-on profession, it is important for everyone in the field (whether they are kinesthetic learners or not) should get as much hands-on experience as possible!

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Whirlwind Week ⟩
October 4, 2013, by Clarissa

Fieldwork School/Life Balance

Oh, what a tornado of a week! We started off with a midterm on Monday for Health Promotion and Wellness, I made and brought in a fine motor toolkit and took a midterm yesterday for Pediatrics, and the write-up for the fine motor toolkit is due midnight tonight! Of course, I miscalculated my exams and assignment due dates and bought tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland the weekend prior to this craziness. It’s my planner’s fault really.

On a positive note, making my fine motor toolkit was such a fun project! I had a great time creating activities with toys and objects to help kids at my fieldwork site develop fine motor skills. I can’t wait to try out my toolkit on them during our full week of fieldwork next week. I also worked at a launch event last week for Interacting with Autism, an online resource with documentary-like videos that invites website visitors to interact with various topics. The launch event was so cool! There were various poster presentations, lectures, and musical performances by the Miracle Group which is a fine arts program for children with autism. I was so impressed with their musical abilities!

All right, it’s time to go back to the grind. The important thing is that that I’m somehow surviving this madness, thanks to caffeine, great study buddies, fun assignments, and epic study breaks. Now, if only those study breaks didn’t include running into my nemesis yet again.

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All Work and No Play? No Way! ⟩
September 27, 2013, by Clarissa

Fieldwork

I have two midterms and my fine motor toolkit for the pediatrics immersion due next week, so this week has been madness with studying, various extracurriculars, and fieldwork. I enjoy everything I do, though, which at least makes it merry madness.

I’m having a great time at my Level I pediatric fieldwork site. I am currently placed in a school-based setting and see children in various elementary schools throughout the day, as well as in clinic. This week, my clinical instructor reviewed my ideas for my fine motor toolkit and I was mind-blown by how creative pediatric occupational therapists can get with simple, everyday objects. Am I going to become that creative?

It also definitely helps relieve midterm stress when fun is incorporated into our curriculum! Since play is a major occupation for children, we do activity analyses of play to learn about treatment strategies utilizing play as motivation. For us, this means learning while playing! Whoever said classroom time has to be all work and no play?

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First Day of Fieldwork! ⟩
September 24, 2013, by Ryan

Fieldwork

We started at our Level I Fieldwork sites last week . . . very exciting!!! I have been placed in the area at a hand therapy clinic since I am currently in the Adult Physical Rehabilitation and Disability Immersion. It is a small clinic with two therapists that made my first day quite nice and pleasant. I was able to meet patients recovering from surgeries such as carpal tunnel and trigger thumb or healing from lacerations caused by a power saw or broken glass. I have to admit, I am a little nervous about protecting my hands after that one day. It was interesting to see how each person was impacted from the loss of their hand function.

Since it was my first day and I am still learning (or trying to remember what I have already learned in Kinesiology a year ago . . . or Anatomy and Physiology even before I started the program, yikes!!!), I decided to interact with the patients. I definitely had the time, since I was told by my CI (Clinical Instructor) to just observe that day and with only two therapists in a small space, there really wasn’t much to else to do. I had a great time meeting people! As people were set up (paraffin wax and heating compress for 10 minutes) I would ask people how they started coming to the clinic. Everyone was happy to share their stories and I ended up having a great laugh with a lovely older woman who was very funny and obviously loved life! She had the best outlook on life. My CI was quite knowledgeable and also really great at explaining what she was doing, then asking me about certain conditions I saw. It really kept me on my toes. I think I am going to learn a lot this semester, so make sure you check in to see what fascinating hand conditions I see next!

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